Can feeding device



March 14, 1950 J, ALBERTOLI 2,500,503

CAN FEEDING DEVICE Filed March '7', 1949 INVENTOR.

JOHN ALBE/Z TOL BY A 5 7m v Patented Mar. 14, 1950 CAN FEEDING DEVICE John Albertoli, San Francisco, Calif.

Original application December 3, 1945, Serial No.

6 Claims.

This invention relates to a can feeding device and is a division of my application Serial No. 632,476 filed December 3, 1945.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of a can feeding device that is adapted to "control the delivery of cans to a filling station, or to any other desired point more efficiently than heretofore.

'It is customary in canneries and packing plants to convey cans on their sides, and in side by side relationship along a generally horizontally extending path of travel, and to withdraw cans from such path by gravity at certain spaced points therealong for conducting the cans so withdrawn to various stations or places where the cans may be filled, labelled or otherwise handled. My United States Letters Patent 1,802,546of April 28, 1931 is an example of one such system.

One of the difliculties in systems of the above character is the jamming of cans where they are'withdrawn from the main supply conveyor or from said generally horizontally extending path.

- One of the objects of this invention is the provision of a device that overcomes the above objections, and that is simple and reliable.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a can feeding device that is adapted to be actuated by the weight of a predetermined number of cans in'the delivery chute from the main conveyer, and'at a point relatively close to said. main conveyor.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of a can feeding device that includes means for facilitating the movement of the cans from the'main supply conveyor through a chute orchute leading to a point remote from said supply conveyor.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a can feeding device including a provision "for making an identifying imprint such as a number or symbol on the cans as they pass along the delivery chute on the way to the filler or to such other device aslmay be desired.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the'description and in the drawings.

:In the drawings,

Fig. 1 .is a diagrammatic side view showing .a portion of a main supply conveyor and several feed devices leading downwardly therefrom.

Fig. 2 is a part sectional, part elevational view "of a feed device for feeding cans to a station,

and which device includes aprinter.

Fig. 3 -is an elevational view of the device of Divided and this application March 7, 1949, Serial No. 80,064

'2 Fig.2 as seen at right angles to the latter from the right hand side ofFig. 2 and with the spacer at the bottom shown partly in'section.

In detail, the cans that are being handled are designated 2, and are shown as being supported on their sides on a carrier 50. They are-moved along said carrier or conveyor by a power driven endless hold-down belt -5l. 'This carrier comprises-a track, and is formed with a gap,-as seen in Fig. 2, for dropping the cansthrough said gap fromrsaid carrier'into the upper end of a generally vertically downwardly extending feed chute -'or device.

This feed device into which the cans are dropped, comprises a pair of spaced opposed vertical side platesfiz, 53 that form two of the opposite sides of the chute.

A horizontal roller '54 extends between plates 52, 53 'adjacentthe delivery edge of carrier 50 over which oncoming cans on said carrier are adapted to fall into the chute, and over which the Scans-are carried. This roller is supported at spokes are so arranged that the first can dropping rover roller 54 will drop onto one of said spokes when such spoke is substantially horizontal and will cause a quarter turn of the star wheel to bring another spoke into the path of the nextcan.

A spring '58 and a friction collar 59 function to ifrictionally stop the star wheel after each quarter revolution thereof so that its momentum willnot cause'movement of the wheel after each can has caused the quarter turn thereof. As

soon as the weight of the falling can is off the wheel the movement of the wheel will stop.

Spacers 60 extending between plates 52, 53

function to space the said plates apart and to also guide th cans in their movement past the :star wheel, or to function as the side of the chute opposite the star wheel.

It-is pertinent to note that the can that is-directly on the laterally projecting arm of the star wheel together with the weight of the can thereab'ove that is in alignment with the cans on the carrier 50, is sufiicient in itself to cause the star '-wheel to rotate a quarter turn, provided the'star wheel is not held from turning. Thus no reliance is placed upon a long row of cans to cause movement of the star wheel, nor is the star wheel positively rotated by any outside agency. The desirability of this arrangement will be more clearly brought out later on.

As the cans move past the star wheel, (assuming the latter is not positively held, but is free to rotate) they will pass downwardly between the concave face of an arcuately shaped plate 6| that is at the same side of the chute as the star wheel, and a printing wheel 62 that carries printing type 63 on its peripheral surface. This printing wheel is conventional and is carried on a shaft 64 that is journalled at its ends in plates 52, 53. A pulley 65 and belt 66 driven from any suitable source of power may rotate the printing wheel in the direction of the arrow (Fig. 2), that is on the pulley 65. This rotation of the printing wheel will also facilitate movement of the cans past plate 6 I. Disks 61 secured on shaft 64 may also engage the cans as they are moved past the printing wheel to hold them horizontal during said movement, but said disks are not of sufficient diameter to prevent printing by the printing wheel. l

The plate BI is supported at its upper and lower ends on horizontal rods 19 that extend through enlarged openings 58 insides 52, 53. Springs H are secured at one of their ends to the outwardly projecting ends ofrods H1 and the other ends of said springs are secured to lugs I2 on plate 52 (Fig. 3). There is a pai of similar springs at opposite ends of said rods, but only one set is shown inasmuch as the other set is concealed within box It that houses a conventional mechanism for shifting the printer 62.

The printer is ordinarily used for printing on the cans any desired symbol for designating the grade of fruit in the cans or to be placed in them.

The cans that pass the printer are adapted to move downwardly by gravity onto a projection that is at the bottom end of a vertically extending lever 16. Lever 76 is pivoted at 17 for swinging of its lower end inwardly and slightly upwardly and the upper end of said lever has a lateral projection 18 that is adapted to engage one of the arms 56 of the star wheel when said lower end is so swung. A spacer and tie rod combination 19 between plate 6| and said portion 15 prevent cans from contacting lever IS. A spring 199 (Fig. 3) connects the lower end of lever 16 below pivot 11 with wall 52 so as to swing the lever laterally for releasing the star wheel unless a can is on the portion 15.

Cans engaging the portion 15 will also be engaged by rotating disks 8!) that will withdraw the cans from the portion 75, by frictional engagement with said cans, and onto the continuation 8| of the chute that leads to the station, provided there are no cans on said continuation that would block the movement of the can past said disks. The disks 89 are on a shaft 82 that carries a pulley 83 and which pulley, in turn, is driven by a belt 84 from any suitable source of power.

The star wheel 55 is so positioned that one of its arms will be locked in a position extending horizontally into the chute when a can is against the portion 15 of the lever 16, and when a can such as is indicated at 90 in Fig. 2, is supported on arm 59 of the star wheel, the cans 2 of the main supply carrier will be moved across can 90 and onto the continuation of said carrier at the side opposite roller 54.

When a can such as can 9|, is supported on Y 4 portion 15, it is obvious that the can 99 will be held in the upper open end of the chute on the horizontal arm of the star wheel. However, as soon as can 91 is permitted to be moved oil the portion by disks 8B and by reason of withdrawal of a can from continuation 8| of the chute, the lower end of lever 16 is free to swing generally toward disks 89 and the projection 18 will free the star wheel for dropping the can supported thereon to the printer for movement therepast onto portion 15.

It is obvious that the printer 62 also facilitates downward movement of the cans in the chute between sides 52, 53, the latter being rotated in the direction indicated by the arrows on pulley 65 (Fig. 2).

While the disks function to draw can 9| out of the chute thereabove and onto continuation 8 I the weight of can 99 at the star wheel is suflicient to actuate the star wheel when the star wheel is free to rotate. Thus can 99 engages the horizontal arm of the star wheel near the outer end of the latter so as to insure operation of said wheel. The weight of the can above can 99, and in the so called supply row obviously is added to the weight of can 98 when the supply row is filled, which it will be in normal operation.

In the event the continuation 8| at the lower end. of the vertical chute is filled with cans, the disks 8!} will merely slide on can 9| without moving the latter, thus a force is being constantly exerted on can 9|, which is transmitted to the cans on continuation 8|, tending to move can 9| off the portion 75.

There may be several similar portions 15 at the lower end of lever 76 to engage the lower side 'of a can at several spaced points, although one will function satisfactorily in most cases. Also the upper edges of the portion 15 may be curved more steeply, if desired, so that two cans may be in engagement with the disks 89 at the same time. Other modifications within the scope of the invention may obviously be made inasmuch as the drawings are not intended to be restrictive of the invention, but are merely illustrations of a preferred form.

One of the important details is the structure whereby the star wheel is adjacent the inlet to the chute and is released for actuation by reason of the absence of a can on portion 15 instead of the application of force in the withdrawal of a can. The feed to and from the chute is automatic. The star wheel at the upper end of the chute is positively held. locked by a can 9| at the lower end, and can 9| is'being constantly powerurged out of the chute so unless there are cans ahead of can 9| that prevents it from being moved past disks 36, the cans'will constantly be moved out of the chute and the chute will be filled. How'- ever, the top can in the chute that closes the same is not supported in closing position by a relatively long row of cans in the chute, with the possible jamming of the cans in the chute from the weight thereon. Instead the top can is held by the star wheel free of the cans therebelow, and the cans between the member l5 and the star wheel are free of the weight and force of the cans above the star wheel. By reason of this arrangement, the possibility of the cans becoming jammed in th chute is practically eliminated.

I claim:

1. A can feeding device comprising a generally vertically extending chute for passing cans in a single file downwardly therethrough, said chute 75 being open at its upper end for receiving cans therein, an upper "support within said *chute Jfor supporting-a can "within said upper open end, a lower support spaced 1 below said upper support iorasupporting-a can thereon in a position clos- :ing said chute-"said upper 'support'being mov table under the influence of the weight of the can :adapted to be supportedlthereon toc a position re ileasing such latter can for downward movement :in said chute to said lower *support, said lower :support being supported for movement auto matically to a position blocking movemento'i cans in said chute -therepast upon absenceof .a can on said lower support and means for so :moving saidilower supporn-a stop member releasably holding said upper support in a position for supporting a can in'said upper end 'of'said chute and movable to a position releasing said .upper support for movement to said position forreleasing said last mentioned .canand means connecting said lowersupp'ortwithsaidstop member for moving said %stop member to a position releasing-said upper zsupport upon said absen ceiof a can on'said lower support and consequent movement of said lower support to can blocking position.

2. A can feeding device comprising a generally vertically extending chute for passing cans in a single file downwardly therethrough, said chute being open at its upper end for receiving cans therein, an upper support within said chute for supporting a can within said upper open end, a lower support spaced below said upper support for supporting a can thereon in a position closing said chute, said upper support being movable under the influence of the weight of the can adapted to be supported thereon to a position releasing such latter can for downward movement in said chute to said lower support, said lower support being supported for movement automatically to a position blocking movement of cans in said chute therepast upon absence of a can on said lower support and means for so moving said lower support, a stop member releasably holding said upper support in a position for supporting a can in said upper end of said chute and movable to a position releasing said upper support for movement to said position for releasing said last mentioned can, and means connecting said lower support with said' stop member for moving said stop member to a position releasing said upper support upon said absence of a can on said lower support and consequent movement of said lower support to can blocking position, a can moving mechanism at one side of said lower support including a power driven rotary element engageable with a can on said support for movement of such can past the latter and out of said chute.

3. A can feeding device comprising a generally vertically extending chute for passing cans in a single file downwardly therethrough, said chute being open at its upper end for receiving cans therein, an upper support within said chute for supportinga can within said upper open end, a lower support spaced below said upper support for supporting a can thereon in a position closing said chute, said upper support being movable under the influence of the weight of the can adapted to be supported thereon to a position releasing such latter can for downward movement in said chute to said lower support, said lower support being supported for movement automatically to a position blocking movement of cans in said chute therepast upon absence of a can on said lower support and means for so moving said lower support, a stop member releasably holding said upper support in a position for supporting a can insaid upper endiof saidichute' and movable to a position releasing said upper support ior'cmovement to said position for releasing said last mentioned can, and means connecting said lower support with said stop'member' forcausing-the'latter toso move upon said absence of a canon-said lower support and consequent move ment-of said lower support to canbiocking position, a can moving mechanism at oneside of said lower support for movement'o'i cans 'pastithe latter and out of said chute,-said-mechanism including a rotatable wheel having a relatively smooth peripheral surface adapted to frictionally engage cans that are on'said lower support'ror causing said movement'of said'-cans, said'- surface being adaptedto slide on cans engaged thereby without "moving the latter in the "event the preceding can moved by said wheel off said memberis in a 'p os'ition obstructing said movement of the'next can on said member.

:4. In a can feeding device, an open'ended Vertically extending chute for downward'passageo'f cans in a single file therethrough, a star wheel having equally spaced arms and rotatably supported adjacent the upper end of said chute-for rotation of its arms about a horizontal axis successively to a position projecting into said chute for supporting a can in said upper end and for releasing the can so supported upon fractional rotation of said wheel to position the next succeeding arm thereof in said position, a vertically extending lever adjacent one side of said chute, a member on the lower end of said lever projecting into the path of travel of cans adapted to pass downwardly through said chute, a rotary can engaging mechanism opposite said member, an arm engaging element on the upper end of said lever adapted to disengage the arms of'said wheel upon movement of said member toward said mechanism when the space between said member and said mechanism is clear of a can, a pivot supporting said lever for swinging said element to arm holding position upon a can being in a position between said mechanism and said member, said mechanism being adapted to move cans in said chute past said member for so swinging the latter.

5. In a can feeding device, an open ended vertically extending chute for downward passage of cans in a single file therethrough, a star wheel having equally spaced arms and rotatably supported adjacent the upper end of said chute for rotation of its arms about a horizontal axis successively to a position projecting into said chute for supporting a can in said upper end and for releasing the can so supported upon fractional rotation of said wheel to position the next succeeding arm thereof in said position, a vertically extending lever adjacentone side of said chute, a member on the lower end of said lever projecting into the path of travel of cans adapted to pass downwardly through said chute, a rotary can engaging mechanism opposite said member, an arm engaging element onthe upper end of said lever adapted to disengage the arms of said wheel upon movement of said member toward said mechanism when the space between said member and said mechanism is clear of a can, a pivot supporting said lever for swinging said element to arm holding position upon a can being in a position between said mechanism and said member, said mechanism including a circular wheel rotatable about a horizontal axis with its periphery adapted to engage cans that are in contact with said member for moving such cans past said member, and means for rotating said wheel.

6. In a can distributing system having a horizontally extending track for longitudinal horizontal movement of a row of cans thereon and provided with a gap for dropping individual cans therethrough; a vertically extending chute having an open upper end for positioning at said gap for receiving said individual cans, a star wheel supported on said chute for rotation about a, horizontal axis with an arm thereof at one of its sides extending across said chute for supporting a single can thereon below said row, said star wheel being rotatable under the influence of gravity of the cans over said arm to pass the can on said arm downwardly into said chute and to interpose the next arm on the wheel across said chute in, can supporting position, a vertically extending lever, a pivot on said chute supporting said lever I at a point spaced between its ends for swinging about the horizontal axis of said pivot, a projection on the lower end of said lever positioned for supporting the lower can in said chute thereon and swingable about said pivot outwardly of said chute under the influence of said lower can for thereby swinging the upper end of said lever inwardly relative to said chute, a stop member on the upper end of saidlever engageable with said wheel when said projection and lower end of said lever is swung outwardly for holding said wheel stationary with said single can thereon, and the lower end of said lever and said projection being swingable inwardly when said projection is free from a can thereon for swinging of the upper end of said lever and said stop member out of holding position. I

- JOHN ALBERTOLI.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number I Name Date 1,315,029 I Albertoli July 21, 1931 

